Wireless mobile communication device with autonomous wi-fi control based on usage of battery in device

ABSTRACT

A wireless mobile communication device may include a Wi-Fi data communication system, an operational condition detection system, and a Wi-Fi activation system. The operational condition detection system may include a battery use detector. The operational condition detection system may be configured to detect an operational condition of the wireless mobile communication device, other than actuation of a user-operated control, including when the battery use detector detects that the wireless mobile communication device is not operating on battery power or is operating while the battery is being charged. The Wi-Fi activation system may be configured to autonomously turn power on to the Wi-Fi data communication system upon detection of an operational condition of the wireless mobile communication device by the operational condition detection system, other than actuation of a user-operated control, including when the battery use detector detects that the wireless mobile communication device is not operating on battery power or is operating while the battery is being charged.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates to wireless mobile communication devices whichare configured to communicate data over Wi-Fi and optionally over acellular data communication channel.

2. Description of Related Art

Many wireless mobile communication devices, such as many smartphones,are configured to communicate data over both a cellular datacommunication channel and WiFi. The user typically decides whichcommunication channel to use.

Some cellular network providers prefer that Wi-Fi be used whenavailable. This offloads the data communication load from their cellulardata communication network.

However, users may be hesitant to turn on their Wi-Fi data communicationsystem because it drains battery power and because it may beinconvenient to do so. Thus, users may not use Wi-Fi, even whenavailable.

SUMMARY

A wireless mobile communication device may include a Wi-Fi datacommunication system, an operational condition detection system, and aWi-Fi activation system.

The Wi-Fi data communication system may be configured to wirelesslyconnect to a Wi-Fi access point and to wirelessly communicate databetween the wireless mobile communication device and the Wi-Fi accesspoint.

The operational condition detection system may include a battery usedetector. The operational condition detection system may be configuredto detect an operational condition of the wireless mobile communicationdevice, other than actuation of a user-operated control, including whenthe battery use detector detects that the wireless mobile communicationdevice is not operating on battery power or is operating while thebattery is being charged.

The Wi-Fi activation system may be configured to autonomously turn poweron to the Wi-Fi data communication system upon detection of anoperational condition of the wireless mobile communication device by theoperational condition detection system, other than actuation of auser-operated control, including when the battery use detector detectsthat the wireless mobile communication device is not operating onbattery power or is operating while the battery is being charged.

The Wi-Fi activation system may be configured to autonomously turn poweroff to the Wi-Fi data communication system, after autonomously turningpower on to the Wi-Fi data communication system, upon detection of anoperational condition of the wireless mobile communication device by theoperational condition detection system, other than actuation of auser-operated control.

The operational condition detection system may include a Wi-Ficonnection detector configured to detect when a connection to a Wi-Fiaccess point has been established. The operational condition may be whenthe Wi-Fi connection detector detects that a Wi-Fi connection to a Wi-Fiaccess point cannot be established.

The Wi-Fi connection detector may be configured to detect when aconnection to a Wi-Fi access point has been broken. The operationalcondition may be when the Wi-Fi connection detector detects that a Wi-Ficonnection to a Wi-Fi access point has been broken.

The Wi-Fi activation system may include a power-on delay timerconfigured to prevent the Wi-Fi activation system from autonomouslyturning power on to the Wi-Fi data communication system, notwithstandingdetection of an operational condition by the operational conditiondetection system, for a pre-determined waiting period after the Wi-Fiactivation system has autonomously turned power off to the Wi-Fi datacommunication system.

The operational condition detection system may include a motion sensorconfigured to sense motion of the wireless mobile communication device.The power-on delay timer may be configured to prematurely terminate thepre-determined waiting period when the motion sensor senses that thewireless mobile communication device has moved substantially afterinitiation of the pre-determined waiting period.

The wireless mobile communication device may include a data storagesystem configured to store a user-setting in the wireless mobilecommunication device indicating that the wireless mobile communicationdevice should not transmit. The Wi-Fi activation system may beconfigured not to autonomously turn power on to the Wi-Fi datacommunication system, notwithstanding detection of an operationalcondition by the operational condition detection system, if the datastorage system is storing a user-setting indicating that the wirelessmobile communication device should not transmit.

The Wi-Fi data communication system may be configured to implement oneor more user-provided policies governing connection of the Wi-Fi datacommunication system to Wi-Fi access points.

The operational condition detection system may include a motion sensorconfigured to sense motion of the wireless mobile communication device.An operational condition may include when the motion sensor senses thatthe wireless mobile communication device has been substantiallymotionless.

Non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable storage media containingcomputer programming instructions which, when executed by a computerprocessing system within a wireless mobile communication device of thetypes described herein, may cause the wireless mobile communicationdevice to perform one or more of the functions described herein.

These, as well as other components, steps, features, objects, benefits,and advantages, will now become clear from a review of the followingdetailed description of illustrative embodiments, the accompanyingdrawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The drawings disclose illustrative embodiments. They do not set forthall embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead.Details which may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to savespace or for more effective illustration. Conversely, some embodimentsmay be practiced without all of the details which are disclosed. Whenthe same numeral appears in different drawings, it refers to the same orlike components or steps.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless mobile communication device withautonomous Wi-Fi control.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process of autonomously turning on a Wi-Fi datacommunication system.

FIG. 3 illustrates a process of autonomously turning off a Wi-Fi datacommunication system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Illustrative embodiments are now discussed. Other embodiments may beused in addition or instead. Details which may be apparent orunnecessary may be omitted to save space or for a more effectivepresentation. Conversely, some embodiments may be practiced without allof the details which are disclosed.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless mobile communication device withautonomous Wi-Fi control. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a wireless mobilecommunication device 101 may include a cellular data communicationsystem 103, a Wi-Fi data communication system 105, a data storage system107, an operational condition detection system 109, a Wi-Fi activationsystem 121.

The wireless mobile communication device 101 may be of any type. Forexample, it may be a smart phone, a mobile game console, e-book readers,tablet computers. The wireless mobile communication device 101 mayinclude additional components and/or not all of the componentsillustrated in FIG. 1.

The cellular data communication system 103 may be configured towirelessly connect to a cellular data communication network, such as toa 3G cellular network. The cellular data communication system 103 may beconfigured to wirelessly communicate data between the wireless mobilecommunication device and the cellular data communication network.

The Wi-Fi data communication system 105 may be configured to wirelesslyconnect to a Wi-Fi access point and to wirelessly communicate databetween the wireless mobile communication device 101 and the Wi-Fiaccess point. The Wi-Fi data communication system 105 may include auser-operated control configured to allow the user to manually turn theWi-Fi data communication system 105 on and off. When turned onautonomously or manually, the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 may beconfigured to autonomously establish a wireless connection with a Wi-Fiaccess point. Once connected, the wireless mobile communication device101 may be configured to communicate data over the Wi-Fi access point,rather than over the cellular data communication network.

The Wi-Fi data communication system 105 may be configured to implementone or more user-provided policies governing connection of the Wi-Fidata communication system 105 to Wi-Fi access points. For example, auser-provided policy may include a password to a particular Wi-Fi accesspoint and may direct the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 toautomatically connect to this particular Wi-Fi access point, whendetected, using this password. Another user-provided policy may permitthe Wi-Fi data communication system 105 to connect to any access pointwhich does not require a password. A still further user-provided policymay prohibit the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 from connecting toan access point which is not secure and/or to one or morespecifically-identified access points.

The data storage system 107 may be configured to store a user-setting inthe wireless mobile communication device indicating that the wirelessmobile communication device should not transmit, such as when a user ison an airplane.

The operational condition detection system 109 may be configured todetect one or more operational conditions of the wireless mobilecommunication device, other than actuation of a user-operated control.To facilitate this detection, the operational condition detection system109 may include a motion sensor 111, a Wi-Fi connection detector 113, abattery use detector 115, a location sensor 117, and a battery powerlevel detector 119.

The motion sensor 111 may be configured to sense motion of the wirelessmobile communication device 101. The motion sensor 111 may be of anytype. For example, the motion sensor 111 may include a gyroscope and/oran accelerometer. The motion sensor 111 may in addition or insteaddetermine motion based on changes in position, as detected by thelocation sensor 117 (discussed in more detail below).

The Wi-Fi connection detector 113 may be configured to detect when aconnection to a Wi-Fi access point been established and/or broken.Although illustrated as separate from the Wi-Fi data communicationsystem 105, the Wi-Fi connection detector 113 may be part of it.

The battery use detector 115 may be configured to detect when thewireless mobile communication device is not operating on battery power.For example, the battery use detector 115 may be configured to detectwhen the wireless mobile communication device is being powered by anexternal power source and/or when an internal battery in the wirelessmobile communication device is being recharged.

The location sensor 117 may be configured to determine when the wirelessmobile communication device is near a Wi-Fi access point. The locationsensor may be configured to first determine the location of the wirelessmobile communication device. The location sensor 117 may include anytype of location sensor for this purpose, including cell towertriangulation technology and/or GPS technology. The location sensor 117may in addition or instead be configured to determine location based onmovement information provided by the motion sensor 111.

The location sensor 117 may be configured to determine when the wirelessmobile communication device is near a Wi-Fi access point by comparingthe determined location of the wireless mobile communication device toknown locations of Wi-Fi access points. These known locations may beobtained from any source.

For example, the location sensor 117 may be configured to cause thewireless mobile communication device to query an external database ofknown Wi-Fi access point locations, such a database maintained on aserver accessible over the Internet. Once queried, this information maybe stored locally in the data storage system 107 for future access.

Each time the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 establishes aconnection with a Wi-Fi access point, the location of the wirelessmobile communication device may be detected by the location sensor 117and stored in the in the data storage system 107 for future access. Thedata storage system 107 may be configured to also store informationindicative of the number of times each Wi-Fi access point has been usedby the wireless mobile communication device 101.

The location sensor 117 may be configured to determine that the wirelessmobile communication device is near a Wi-Fi access point, even when thewireless communication device is not in access range of the Wi-Fi accesspoint. This may occur, for example, when the location sensor 117 reliesupon triangulation as the means of determining location. Thetriangulation technology may not be adequate to determine location tothe degree of accuracy needed to know whether the wireless mobilecommunication device 101 is within access range of a Wi-Fi access point.

The battery power level detector 119 may be configured to detectinformation indicative of the charge level of a battery that powers thewireless mobile communication device 101. The battery power leveldetector 119 may be part of a battery charging system and may utilizeany of the well known technologies for accomplishing this function.

The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may be configured to autonomously turnpower on to the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 upon detection of anoperational condition of the wireless mobile communication device by theoperational condition detection system 109, other than actuation of auser-operated control. The operational condition may be any of theoperational conditions detected by the operational condition detectionsystem 109.

For example, the operational condition may be when the motion sensor 111senses that the wireless mobile communication device has beensubstantially motionless. Substantially motionless may includecircumstances when there is still localized motion of the wirelessmobile communication device 101, such as might be caused when the deviceis in a shirt pocket of a person who is eating lunch at a restaurant.The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may be configured to characterize suchlocalized movement as substantially motionless.

The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may more specifically be configured todetermine that the wireless mobile communication device 101 has beensubstantially motionless when the motion sensor 111 indicates that thewireless mobile communication device 101 has not moved at an averagevelocity in excess of a threshold during a pre-determined period. Forexample, the Wi-Fi activation system 121 may be configured to determinethat the wireless mobile communication device 101 has been substantiallymotionless when the motion sensor 111 indicates that the averagevelocity of the wireless mobile communication device 101 during a 10, 30or 60 second interval is less than one mile per hour. Other thresholdsand/or intervals may be used instead.

The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may be configured to autonomously turnpower off to the Wi-Fi data communication system 105, after autonomouslyturning power on to the Wi-Fi data communication system, upon detectionof an operational condition of the wireless mobile communication deviceby the operational condition detection system, other than actuation of auser-operated control. For example, the operational condition may bewhen a Wi-Fi connection to a Wi-Fi access point cannot be established,based on the failure of the Wi-Fi connection detector 113 to detect thata Wi-Fi connection to a Wi-Fi access point has been established afterone or more attempts. The inability to establish a Wi-Fi connection mayfor example be due to a technical problem in negotiating a connection, asecurity problem, and/or a policy prohibition.

As another example, the operational condition may be when the Wi-Ficonnection detector 113 detects that a Wi-Fi connection to a Wi-Fiaccess point has been broken. This may occur, for example, when thewireless mobile communication device 101 is moved out of range of theWi-Fi access point after a connection has been established.

The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may include a power-on delay timer 123.The power-on delay timer 123 may be configured to prevent the Wi-Fiactivation system 121 from autonomously turning power on to the Wi-Fidata communication system, notwithstanding detection of an operationalcondition by the operational condition detection system 109, for apre-determined waiting period after the Wi-Fi activation system 121 hasautonomously turned power off to the Wi-Fi data communication system.

For example, the Wi-Fi activation system 121 may autonomously turn poweron to the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 when the wireless mobilecommunication device 101 has been substantially motionless, but theWi-Fi data communication system 105 may be unable to establish aconnection. In this circumstance, the Wi-Fi activation system 121 maythen autonomously turn power off to the Wi-Fi data communication system105 to avoid a needless drain on power. The power-on delay timer 123 maythen prevent the Wi-Fi activation system 121 from again turning power onto the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 for a pre-determined period,even though the wireless mobile communication device 101 remainssubstantially motionless. The pre-determined period may be of anylength, such as between ten minutes and one hour.

The power-on delay timer 123 may be configured to prematurely terminatethe pre-determined waiting period when the motion sensor 111 senses thatthe wireless mobile communication device has moved substantially afterinitiation of the pre-determined waiting period. In other words, if thewireless mobile communication device 101 is moved in a substantial wayduring the pre-determined power-off period, the Wi-Fi data communicationsystem 105 may again be able to establish a connection to a data accesspoint, thus justifying the Wi-Fi activation system 121 again applyingpower to the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 as soon as the wirelessmobile communication device 101 again becomes substantially motionless.Movement in a substantial way may be equated with movement beyond thatwhich is deemed to be substantially motionless.

The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may be configured not to autonomouslyturn power on to the Wi-Fi data communication system 105,notwithstanding detection of an operational condition by the operationalcondition detection system, if the data storage system 107 is storing auser-setting indicating that the wireless mobile communication device101 should not transmit.

The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may be configured to autonomously turnpower on to the Wi-Fi data communication system when the battery usedetector 115 detects that the wireless mobile communication device 101is not operating on battery power. In this circumstance, the Wi-Fiactivation system 121 may be configured to keep power on the Wi-Fi datacommunication system 105, regardless of whether connection to an accesspoint can be established, whether connection to an access point has beenbroken, the status of the pre-determined period in the power-on delaytimer 123, and/or any other circumstance. In a different configuration,the Wi-Fi activation system 121 may be configured to autonomously turnpower off to the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 if any of thesecircumstances occur, even if the wireless mobile communication device101 is not operating on battery power.

The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may be configured to autonomously turnpower on to the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 when the locationsensor 117 senses that the wireless mobile communication device 101 isnear a Wi-Fi access point.

The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may be configured not to autonomouslyturn power on to the Wi-Fi data communication system, notwithstandingthat the location sensor 117 senses that the wireless mobilecommunication device 101 is near a Wi-Fi access point, when that accesspoint has not been used more than a pre-determined number of times bythe wireless mobile communication device 101 for data communication.This may be done, for example, when the location sensor 112 isdetermining nearness to a Wi-Fi access point based on triangulation.Triangulation could result in a nearness determination, even though thewireless mobile communication device 101 is thousands of feet away fromthe access point and thus beyond connection range. In this circumstance,it may not be worthwhile to turn power on to the Wi-Fi communicationsystem 105, unless the nearby access point is a popular one with theuser. Otherwise, the user may not be likely to come within access rangeof that access point.

The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may include a power-off delay timer 125configured to prevent the Wi-Fi activation system 121 from concludingthat connection to a Wi-Fi access point cannot be established untilafter a pre-determined time period after the Wi-Fi data communicationsystem has been turned on. The pre-determined period may be in excess of10, 30, or 60 minutes. This may give the user time to move in range of aWi-Fi access point which has been determined to be near the currentlocation of the wireless mobile communication device 101.

The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may be configured not to autonomouslyturn power on to the Wi-Fi data communication system, notwithstandingdetection of an operational condition of the wireless mobilecommunication device by the operational condition detection system, whenthe battery power level detector detects that the charge level of thebattery is below a pre-determined threshold. This may be particularlyuseful when the operational condition is nearness to a Wi-Fi accesspoint, based on triangulation. In this circumstances, it may take a longtime for a user to come within access range of a popular access point,which may be too long of a drain on a weak battery.

FIG. 2 illustrates a process of autonomously turning on a Wi-Fi datacommunication system. This process may be implemented by the wirelessmobile communication device 101 illustrated in FIG. 1 and will bediscussed in this context. However, the process may be implemented by adifferent type of wireless mobile communication device. Similarly, thewireless mobile communication device 101 may implement a differentprocess.

As illustrated by the Airplane Mode? step 201 in FIG. 2, the Wi-Fiactivation system 121 may check whether there is a user-settingindicating that the wireless mobile communication device should nottransmit, such as is commonly provided when the wireless mobilecommunication device has been set in airplane mode. This information maybe stored in the data storage system 107. If so, the process mayrepeatedly restart until that indication is removed.

If there is no indication that the wireless mobile communication deviceshould not transmit, or once such an indication has been removed, theWi-Fi activation system 121 may determine whether the user has manuallyapplied power to the Wi-Fi data communication system 105, as reflectedby a Wi-Fi Switched On By User? step 203. If so, the process mayrepeatedly restart until this indication is removed. In the interim,power to the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 may remain on, asrequested by the user.

The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may check to determine whether thewireless mobile communication device 101 is operating on battery power,as reflected by an Operating On Battery Power? step 205. The Wi-Fiactivation system 121 may make this determination by communicating withthe battery use detector 115. If the wireless mobile communicationdevice is not operating on battery power, the Wi-Fi activation system121 may be configured to autonomously turn power on to the Wi-Fi datacommunication system 105.

Conversely, if the wireless mobile communication device 101 is operatingon battery power, the Wi-Fi activation system 121 may be configured tonext determine whether the wireless mobile communication device 101 hasbeen substantially motionless, as reflected by a SubstantiallyMotionless? step 207. The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may make thisdetermination by communicating with the motion sensor 111. If so, theWi-Fi activation system 121 may autonomously apply power to the Wi-Fidata communication system 105.

If not, the Wi-Fi activation system 121 may check to see whether thewireless mobile communication device 101 is near a Wi-Fi access point,as reflected by a Near Wi-Fi Access Point? step 209. The Wi-Fiactivation system 121 may make this determination by communicating withthe location sensor 117. The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may eliminatefrom the Wi-Fi access points which are considered those that have notbeen used for more than a pre-determined number of times by the wirelessmobile communication device for data communication. The Wi-Fi activationsystem 121 may obtain this historical data from the data storage system107.

If the wireless mobile communication device 101 is near a Wi-Fi accesspoint or one that has been frequently used, the Wi-Fi activation system121 may check to see whether the charge level of the battery is at leastat a pre-determined threshold, as reflected by a Battery Charge LevelAdequate? step 211. This threshold may be set at a level that insuresthat the battery will have sufficient power to power the Wi-Ficommunication system 105 while the system waits for the user to move thewireless mobile communication device 101 within range of the nearbyWi-Fi access point, as well as power to maintain data communicationsthereafter. If so, the Wi-Fi activation system 121 may apply power tothe Wi-Fi data communication system 105. If the wireless datacommunication device 101 is not near a Wi-Fi access point or if thecharge level of the battery is below the pre-determined threshold, theWi-Fi activation system may instead restart the power-on process.

The steps of the power-on process may be different from what has beenillustrated and discussed. For example, the process may not includetesting for airplane mode, for whether operations are on battery power,for whether the wireless mobile communication device has beensubstantially motionless, for whether a Wi-Fi access point is near,and/or for whether the battery charge level is adequate. The steps ofthe process may also be in a different order. Additional tests may beincluded.

FIG. 3 illustrates a process of autonomously turning off a Wi-Fi datacommunication system. This process may be used and will now be discussedin conjunction with the wireless mobile communication device 101illustrated in FIG. 1 and the process of autonomously turning on a Wi-Fidata communication system illustrated in FIG. 2. However, the processmay be used in conjunction with a different wireless mobilecommunication device and/or a different process of autonomously turningon a Wi-Fi data communication system. Similarly, the wireless mobilecommunication device 101 illustrated in FIG. 1 and/or the process ofautonomously turning on a Wi-Fi data communication system illustrated inFIG. 2 may be used in conjunction with a different process ofautonomously turning off a Wi-Fi data communication system.

After the Wi-Fi data communication system is powered on, the Wi-Fiactivation system 121 may check whether a Wi-Fi access point has beendetected, as reflected by a Detect Wi-Fi Access Point? step 301. TheWi-Fi activation system 121 may do so by communicating with the Wi-Fidata communication system 105. If not, the Wi-Fi activation system 121may check to see whether sufficient time has been given for the wirelessmobile communication device 101 to be brought within range of a Wi-Fiaccess point, as reflected by a Time Out? step 303. The power-off delaytimer 125 may provide this time out information. This time out may beparticularly useful when the Wi-Fi data communication system has beenturned on in response to detection of the wireless mobile communicationdevice 101 as being near a Wi-Fi access point by a location sensor 117that is not very accurate (e.g., one that uses signal triangulation).The time out period may be any amount, such as at least 15, 30 or 60minutes.

The time out period may be changed when the Wi-Fi data communicationsystem 105 has been turned on for other reasons, such as due tosubstantial motionless of the wireless mobile communication device 101and/or when the device is not operating on battery power. In these othercircumstances, the time out may be substantially reduce to the timeneeded for the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 to detect a Wi-Fiaccess point.

If a Wi-Fi access point is not detected by the end of the time outperiod, the Wi-Fi activation system may turn power off to the Wi-Fi datacommunication system 105, as reflected by a Turn Off Wi-Fi step 305.

If a Wi-Fi access point is detected within the time out period, on theother hand, the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 may determinewhether any applicable user-provided policies permit a connection to thedetected Wi-Fi access point, as reflected by a User-Provided PoliciesPermit Connection? step 307. As explained above, one user policy mayseek to automatically connect to an access point to which a connectionpoint has previously been established, while another user policy mayprohibit connections to certain access points, such as unsecured accesspoints. If a connection is permitted by a user-provided policy, theWi-Fi data communication system 105 may seek to connect to the Wi-Fiaccess point, as reflected by a Connect to Wi-Fi access point step 309.If a connection is not permitted, on the other hand, the Wi-Fiactivation system 121 may turn power off to the Wi-Fi data communicationsystem 105, as reflected by the Turn Off Wi-Fi step 305.

The Wi-Fi activation system 121 may check to see whether a connectionhas been established, as reflected by a Connection Established? step311. If not, the Wi-Fi activation system 121 may turn power off to theWi-Fi data communication system 105, as reflected by the Turn Off Wi-Fistep 305. If a connection has been established, on the other hand, theWi-Fi activation system 121 may check to see if the connection has beenbroken, as reflected by a Connection Broken? step 313. The Wi-Fiactivation system may do so by communicating with the Wi-Fi connectiondetector 113. If the connection has not been broken, the Wi-Fiactivation system 121 may wait until the connection has been broken. Ifand when the connection has been broken, on the other hand, the Wi-Fiactivation system 121 may turn power off to the Wi-Fi data communicationsystem 105, as reflected by the Turn Off Wi-Fi step 305.

Although not shown in FIG. 3, the Wi-Fi activation system 121 may checkwhether the wireless mobile communication device 101 has substantiallymoved while the Wi-Fi connection is ongoing and, if so, turn off powerto the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 upon such detection. TheWi-Fi activation system 121 may make this check by communicating withthe motion sensor 111.

After power to the Wi-Fi data communication system 105 has been turnedon and then turned off, the Wi-Fi activation system 121 may wait for apredetermined period, as determined by the power-on delay timer 123, asreflected by a Wait step 315. Thereafter, the power-on process mayrepeat. As explained above, this pre-determined period may be truncatedin the event that substantial motion of the wireless data communicationdevice 101 is detected by the motion sensor 111.

The steps of the power-off process may be different from what has beenillustrated and discussed. There may be more or less steps and the stepsmay be in a different order.

The various components which have thus-far been described, such as thewireless mobile communication device 101, the cellular datacommunication system 103, the Wi-Fi data communication system 105, thedata storage system 107, the operational condition detection system 109,the motion sensor 111, the Wi-Fi connection detector 113, the batteryuse detector 115, the location sensor 117, the battery power leveldetector 119, the Wi-Fi activation system 121, the power-on delay timer123, and the power-off delay timer 125, may be implemented withelectronic hardware configured to perform the functions which thesecomponents are described herein as performing in accordance withwell-established technologies. Software, including an operating systemand associated application programming instructions, may be included inconnection with each component to facilitate their describedfunctionality.

Non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable storage media may beconfigured with computer programming instructions. The media may includeone or more CDs, DVDs, hard drives, and/or flash memories. Theprogramming instructions may be configured, when executed by a computerprocessing system within a wireless mobile communication device, tocause the cellular data communication system 103, the Wi-Fi datacommunication system 105, the data storage system 107, the operationalcondition detection system 109, the motion sensor 111, the Wi-Ficonnection detector 113, the battery use detector 115, the locationsensor 117, the battery power level detector 119, the Wi-Fi activationsystem 121, the power-on delay timer 123, and the power-off delay timer125, to perform the functions described above for these components.

The components, steps, features, objects, benefits and advantages whichhave been discussed are merely illustrative. None of them, nor thediscussions relating to them, are intended to limit the scope ofprotection in any way. Numerous other embodiments are also contemplated.These include embodiments which have fewer, additional, and/or differentcomponents, steps, features, objects, benefits and advantages. Thesealso include embodiments in which the components and/or steps arearranged and/or ordered differently.

Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions,magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications which are set forth in thisspecification, including in the claims which follow, are approximate,not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range which isconsistent with the functions to which they relate and with what iscustomary in the art to which they pertain.

All articles, patents, patent applications, and other publications whichhave been cited in this disclosure are hereby incorporated herein byreference.

The phrase “means for” when used in a claim is intended to and should beinterpreted to embrace the corresponding structures and materials whichhave been described and their equivalents. Similarly, the phrase “stepfor” when used in a claim is intended to and should be interpreted toembrace the corresponding acts which have been described and theirequivalents. The absence of these phrases in a claim mean that the claimis not intended to and should not be interpreted to be limited to any ofthe corresponding structures, materials, or acts or to theirequivalents.

Nothing which has been stated or illustrated is intended or should beinterpreted to cause a dedication of any component, step, feature,object, benefit, advantage, or equivalent to the public, regardless ofwhether it is recited in the claims.

The scope of protection is limited solely by the claims which nowfollow. That scope is intended and should be interpreted to be as broadas is consistent with the ordinary meaning of the language which is usedin the claims when interpreted in light of this specification and theprosecution history which follows and to encompass all structural andfunctional equivalents.

1. A wireless mobile communication device comprising: a cellular datacommunication system configured to wirelessly connect to a cellular datacommunication network and to wirelessly communicate data between thewireless mobile communication device and the cellular data communicationnetwork; a Wi-Fi data communication system configured to wirelesslyconnect to a Wi-Fi access point and to wirelessly communicate databetween the wireless mobile communication device and the Wi-Fi accesspoint an operational condition detection system, including a battery usedetector, configured to detect a turn-on operational condition of thewireless mobile communication device, other than actuation of auser-operated control, including when the battery use detector detectsthat the wireless mobile communication device is not operating onbattery power or is operating while the battery is being charged; and aWi-Fi activation system configured to autonomously turn power on to theWi-Fi data communication system upon detection of the turn-onoperational condition of the wireless mobile communication device by theoperational condition detection system, other than actuation of auser-operated control, including when the battery use detector detectsthat the wireless mobile communication device is not operating onbattery power or is operating while the battery is being charged.
 2. Thewireless mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the Wi-Fiactivation system is configured to autonomously turn power off to theWi-Fi data communication system, after autonomously turning power on tothe Wi-Fi data communication system, upon detection of a turn-offoperational condition of the wireless mobile communication device by theoperational condition detection system, other than actuation of auser-operated control.
 3. The wireless mobile communication device ofclaim 2 wherein: the operational condition detection system includes aWi-Fi connection detector configured to detect when a connection to aWi-Fi access point has been established; and the turn-off operationalcondition is when the Wi-Fi connection detector detects that a Wi-Ficonnection to a Wi-Fi access point cannot be established.
 4. Thewireless mobile communication device of claim 2 wherein: the operationalcondition detection system includes a Wi-Fi connection detectorconfigured to detect when a connection to a Wi-Fi access point has beenbroken; and the turn-off operational condition is when the Wi-Ficonnection detector detects that a Wi-Fi connection to a Wi-Fi accesspoint has been broken.
 5. The wireless mobile communication device ofclaim 2 wherein: the operational condition detection system includes aWi-Fi connection detector configured to detect when a connection to aWi-Fi access point has been established; and the turn-off operationalcondition is when the Wi-Fi connection detector detects that a Wi-Ficonnection to a Wi-Fi access point is established and the battery usedetector detects that the device is operating on battery power and theremaining charge in the battery is below a pre-determined level.
 6. Thewireless mobile communication device of claim 2 wherein the Wi-Fiactivation system includes a power-on delay timer configured to preventthe Wi-Fi activation system from autonomously turning power on to theWi-Fi data communication system, notwithstanding detection of a turn-onoperational condition by the operational condition detection system, fora pre-determined waiting period after the Wi-Fi activation system hasautonomously turned power off to the Wi-Fi data communication system. 7.The wireless mobile communication device of claim 6 wherein: theoperational condition detection system includes a motion sensorconfigured to sense motion of the wireless mobile communication device;and the power-on delay timer is configured to prematurely terminate thepre-determined waiting period when the motion sensor senses that thewireless mobile communication device has moved substantially afterinitiation of the pre-determined waiting period.
 8. The wireless mobilecommunication device of claim 1: further comprising a data storagesystem configured to store a user-setting in the wireless mobilecommunication device indicating that the wireless mobile communicationdevice should not transmit; and wherein the Wi-Fi activation system isconfigured not to autonomously turn power on to the Wi-Fi datacommunication system, notwithstanding detection of the turn-onoperational condition by the operational condition detection system, ifthe data storage system is storing a user-setting indicating that thewireless mobile communication device should not transmit.
 9. Thewireless mobile communication device of claim 1 wherein the Wi-Fi datacommunication system is configured to implement one or moreuser-provided policies governing connection of the Wi-Fi datacommunication system to Wi-Fi access points.
 10. The wireless mobilecommunication device of claim 1 wherein: the operational conditiondetection system includes a motion sensor configured to sense motion ofthe wireless mobile communication device; and the turn-on operationalcondition includes when the motion sensor senses that the wirelessmobile communication device has been substantially motionless. 11.Non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable storage media containingcomputer programming instructions which, when executed by a computerprocessing system within a wireless mobile communication device having:a cellular data communication system configured to wirelessly connect toa cellular data communication network and to wirelessly communicate databetween the wireless mobile communication device and the cellular datacommunication network; a Wi-Fi data communication system configured towirelessly connect to a Wi-Fi access point and to wirelessly communicatedata between the wireless mobile communication device and the Wi-Fiaccess point; and an operational condition detection system, including abattery use detector, configured to detect a turn-on operationalcondition of the wireless mobile communication device, other thanactuation of a user-operated control, including when the battery usedetector detects that the wireless mobile communication device is notoperating on battery power or is operating while the battery is beingcharged; cause the computer processing system to function as a Wi-Fiactivation system which autonomously turns power on to the Wi-Fi datacommunication system upon detection of the turn-on operational conditionof the wireless mobile communication device by the operational conditiondetection system, other than actuation of a user-operated control,including when the battery use detector detects that the wireless mobilecommunication device is not operating on battery power or is operatingwhile the battery is being charged.
 12. The non-transitory, tangible,computer-readable storage media of claim 11 wherein the computerprogramming instructions, when executed by the computer processingsystem, cause the Wi-Fi activation system to autonomously turn power offto the Wi-Fi data communication system, after autonomously turning poweron to the Wi-Fi data communication system, upon detection of a turn-offoperational condition of the wireless mobile communication device by theoperational condition detection system, other than actuation of auser-operated control.
 13. The non-transitory, tangible,computer-readable storage media of claim 12 wherein: the operationalcondition detection system includes a Wi-Fi connection detectorconfigured to detect when a connection to a Wi-Fi access point has beenestablished; and the turn-on operational condition is when the Wi-Ficonnection detector detects that a Wi-Fi connection to a Wi-Fi accesspoint cannot be established.
 14. The non-transitory, tangible,computer-readable storage media of claim 12 wherein: the operationalcondition detection system includes a Wi-Fi connection detectorconfigured to detect when a connection to a Wi-Fi access point has beenbroken; and the turn-off operational condition is when the Wi-Ficonnection detector detects that a Wi-Fi connection to a Wi-Fi accesspoint has been broken.
 15. The non-transitory, tangible,computer-readable storage media of claim 12 wherein the computerprogramming instructions which, when executed by a computer processingsystem, cause the Wi-Fi activation system to have a power-on delay timerwhich prevents the Wi-Fi activation system from autonomously turningpower on to the Wi-Fi data communication system, notwithstandingdetection of the turn-on operational condition by the operationalcondition detection system, for a pre-determined waiting period afterthe Wi-Fi activation system has autonomously turned power off to theWi-Fi data communication system.
 16. The non-transitory, tangible,computer-readable storage media of claim 16 wherein: the operationalcondition detection system includes a motion sensor configured to sensemotion of the wireless mobile communication device; and the computerprogramming instructions which, when executed by a computer processingsystem, cause the power-on delay timer to prematurely terminate thepre-determined waiting period when the motion sensor senses that thewireless mobile communication device has moved substantially afterinitiation of the pre-determined waiting period.
 17. The non-transitory,tangible, computer-readable storage media of claim 11 wherein thecomputer programming instructions, when executed by the computerprocessing system, cause the Wi-Fi activation system not to autonomouslyturn power on to the Wi-Fi data communication system, notwithstandingdetection of the turn-on operational condition by the operationalcondition detection system, if a user-setting in the wireless mobilecommunication device indicates that the wireless mobile communicationdevice should not transmit.
 18. The non-transitory, tangible,computer-readable storage media of claim 11 wherein the computerprogramming instructions, when executed by the computer processingsystem, cause the Wi-Fi data communication system to implement one ormore user-provided policies governing connection of the Wi-Fi datacommunication system to Wi-Fi access points.
 19. The non-transitory,tangible, computer-readable storage media of claim 11 wherein: theoperational condition detection system includes a motion sensorconfigured to sense motion of the wireless mobile communication device;and the turn-on operational condition includes when the motion sensorsenses that the wireless mobile communication device has beensubstantially motionless.